When our Lord walked out of the grave from death into life, He rose over all powers of death including death itself.

There is the power of death that weakens us when we are broken by adversity and hardship. Our shoulders slump. Faces are forlorn and dejected. Eyes look down unable to see the bright sunshine and blue skies. Itís one dark cloud surrounding us. It is death.

Jesus experienced this power of death and rose. Because we have been raised with Christ, we too rise through adversity and hardship by His power. I rise! I see the sunshine through the clouds and the clouds part like the Red Sea did for the Israelites, and we rise up victoriously.

There is the power of death that causes us to weep and grieve over losses and tragedies. Depressionís grip suffocates the very life out of us. Life isnít worth living. Hope flees. All is lost. It is the power of death driving out life and the will to live.

Jesus experienced this power of death and rose. He rose out of grief, betrayal, loneliness, and tears. Because we have been raised with Christ, we too rise through every painful loss. I rise! I rise to face tomorrow with faith and hope in the One who turns my mourning into joy.

There is the death of spirit from the bullets of hate that penetrate our soul. ďYouíre no good. You canít do anything right. Mean words that strike our hearts and take away our emotional and spiritual life like a bullet in the heart takes away our physical life.

Jesus experienced this power of death of spirit from the tracers that struck him. ďYouíre the devil. Youíre a drunkard. Youíre a glutton. Youíre insane!Ē Mean words. Words that kill the spirit. Jesus was called every name in the book and rose through the hate. Because we have been raised with Christ, we too rise above words of hate shot at us. I rise. I rise like the sun that dispels the dark shadows to shine the love and forgiveness on my oppressors. I rise. No one can hold me down even as no one could hold my blessed Savior down in the grave.

Jesus takes our hand and raises us up, up, up. The power of His resurrection is here and now as well as in the sweet by and by.